Much of the paneling sold in the U.S. is either faced with tropical wood veneer or backed with tropical plywood (lauan) or both. That can be true even if the paneling is manufactured in the U.S.

What to Avoid

The following companies sell paneling using tropical woods.

Chesapeake

Columbia Forest Products

Georgia-Pacific

Lewis Lumber Products

What to Choose

The first question to ask is, “Is wood paneling necessary?” Wood paneling became extremely popular in the U.S. in the 1970s but has since become less so. Consider less-consumptive options such as environmentally preferable paint, such as Livos or BioShield brands.

If you’re really set on wood, use domestic wood from FSC-accredited certified operations. Consult certifiedwood.org for an up-to-date list of certified paneling suppliers